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Vaughn Wardell, Viscount Rothmere, is the only heir to the Marquis of Fairleigh. After the death of his mother, the only good thing left for him was Kirkaldy, a hunting lodge near Edinburgh. However, the ownership of Kirkaldy is in question, so he’s returning to Fairleigh Hall to see his father and make his claim. Vaughn’s memories of his father, Rufus Wardell, and Fairleigh Hall aren’t good, but he intends to stay until his father relinquishes Kirkaldy to him. His father’s up-coming marriage is the cause of all the mess. Vaughn doesn’t realize that his father’s fiancé is young and very beautiful. At first, he plans to use the woman who would be his stepmother, but you know what they say about the best laid plans. From the beginning, her sweetness and stunning beauty mesmerizes him and he can’t, for the life of him, comprehend her attraction to his father.
Elisa is a beautiful woman whose husband died in a fight over another woman. Rumor has it that he was killed because Elisa was having an affair, but the truth is he was killed by the husband of the woman he was having an affair with. Widowed and left with little else than a tarnished reputation, Elisa’s dead husband’s family takes her son and disappears. It’s been 10 years and she hasn’t been able to find him. Then Rufus Wardell, promises to find her son, if she agrees to marries him. She thinks Rufus is a good man, so she thinks why not! Then Rufus’ son, Vaughn, comes to stay with them. Vaughn makes her want things she hasn’t in a very long time. She longs for love, but can she trust Vaughn?
FORBIDDEN is a very interesting story about two people who need different things from each other. Vaughn needs Elisa not to marry his father so he can retain ownership of Kirkaldy and Elisa needs Vaughn to leave her alone so she can marry Rufus and get her son back. Elisa was devastated by her husband’s deception and his family so it makes her less trusting than the average person. Add in a colorful cast of secondary characters and you have a wonderful historical romance.
Anastasia Black has written a spicy, yet heartwarming story about two people whose destinies cross at the worst possible time. Finding love, trust and her son are the only things that can mend Elisa’s broken heart. Vaughn learns some very valuable lessons along the way and in the end becomes a better person, someone worthy of love. A recommendation for FORBIDDEN is a definite.
Reviewed by Jennifer Ray
for The Road to Romance
December 29, 2004
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